WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 7, 2008 – In response to Senator Barack Obama’s election as 44th President of the United States, Reform Jewish leaders today sent the President-elect a letter of congratulations. Signed by Rabbi Eric Yoffie, president of the Union for Reform Judaism, Peter Weidhorn, chairman of the Union for Reform Judaism, and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the text of the letter follows:

Dear Mr. President-Elect:

On behalf of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, we write to congratulate you on your election.

We look forward to working with you and stand ready to be your partner in advancing America’s social justice agenda. Your vision of a nation united by a new spirit of cooperation is one shared by Reform Jews throughout the country.

As you know, the Reform Jewish Movement is deeply committed to advancing our country and our communities through tikkun olam, the repair of our world. As we commend you on your electoral victory, we eagerly anticipate working closely with you and your administration to better the United States economically, heal its divisions, enrich it morally, strengthen it internationally and focus on critical issues such as health care, immigration, poverty, foreign relations and civil rights. All the while, we must keep in mind the mandate of so many of America’s faith groups: to enhance the dignity and equality of all humanity, created as we are in the image of the Divine and to act to provide special protection to the poor and the weak, the most vulnerable of God’s children.

In the words of the Jewish tradition, “May you continue to go from strength to strength,” and may God bless you and our nation.